Hoseok rap

FlipTop Rap Battle League (FlipTop for short) — the first and largest running professional rap battle conference in the Philippines — has become a cultural phenomenon that pushed the envelope of Filipino hip-hop since its start in 2010. This platform also launched the careers of some of the biggest names in the hip-hop rap scene today such as Loonie, Abra, Smugglaz and Bassilyo who each gained recording deals and released hit songs. Because of its original freestyle format and unique use of words in a rap battle, FlipTop immediately acquired traction not just on social media, but also in independent inter-barangay and inter-collegiate competitions among the youth. One of them is Jerrel Pilarta. Having been amused by rap music ever since he was a child, Pilarta started rapping back in college at the University of the East-Manila. When FlipTop began to make noise in 2011, he and his classmates were inspired to make rap battle videos inside the campus. From a merely pastime, it ... » Learn More about How faith changed Jerrel Pilarta’s rap game

HANOI: The US ambassador to Vietnam has rapped a Lunar New Year video to the country that has set the local internet alight, drawing a measure of admiration — and cringing — from those who’ve watched it. Daniel Kritenbrink, a career diplomat who served previously in Kuwait, China and Japan, is featured roaming the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City wearing headphones and rhyming a Tet message to the country. He was accompanied by enthusiastic local music stars as they drank coffee and sampled Vietnamese snacks. The Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet, is the most important annual holiday for Vietnamese, centered around family gatherings. It also has enormous significance in relations between Washington and Hanoi, as North Vietnam launched what became known as the “Tet offensive” over the holiday in 1968, catching the US-backed southern Saigon government unawares. It was a much lighter mood in Kritenbrink’s video, however, which showed the diplomat rapping “Tet in ... » Learn More about US ambassador raps New Year message to Vietnam

The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the criminal and administrative charges filed against Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda Acosta and PAO’s Forensics Laboratory head Dr. Erwin Erfe. In a 23-page joint resolution, the Ombudsman ruled that the complaints filed in 2018 by lawyer Wilfredo Garrido Jr. was dropped “for insufficiency of evidence.” Garrido charged Acosta and Erfe with falsification of public documents, illegal use of public funds or property, and with administrative offenses of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service. Garrido argued that PAO and Acosta could not prosecute the controversial Dengvaxia cases. Garrido also alleged that “since her appointment in 2001 as PAO chief, Acosta purposely hogged the limelight in every possible legal case, particularly, the investigation on the government’s Dengue Immunization Program, in clear violation of the practice ... » Learn More about Ombudsman drops graft rap vs Acosta

TAGBILARAN CITY –– The former mayor of this city has filed a graft complaint against incumbent officials of Bohol for entering into alleged anomalous transactions. Former Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim on Wednesday requested the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap, Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Fe Pioquinto, and members of the Bids and Awards Committee for their alleged involvement in anomalous transactions, including the purchase of overpriced motorcycles, ambulances, and mobile x-rays. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Yap denied intervening in the procurement process and wasting public funds amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. “I take it (complaint) seriously because it is malicious and baseless, especially since they did it while we were trying to protect our province against the pandemic,” he said. Lim alleged that the Bohol provincial government approved the procurement by way of a negotiated sale of eight units of ... » Learn More about Graft raps filed vs Bohol gov, other officials

TACLOBAN CITY –– At least eight men, one of them a college student, are facing charges after they were arrested by policemen in Biliran town, Biliran province for engaging in illegal gambling using spiders on Sunday, Nov.22. The suspects were identified as Wilson Ebajo, 36; Joemar Saligumba, 32; Jan Paul Sambitan, 21; Ogie Mendoza, 22; John Carlo Urgel, 23; Ronald Salidaga, 18; Joel Barong, 33; and Gimmar Lubiano, 25. All suspects were construction workers except for Salidaga, who is a college student. Reports from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) based in Palo town in Leyte show that the suspects used an improvised fighting arena called “rueda” in an illegal gambling activity locally known as “damang.” Recovered from the suspects were six pieces of improvised plastic containers with 46 live spiders worth about P2,300, two sling bags, and bet money amounting to P550. The suspects were brought to Biliran municipal police station for ... » Learn More about 8 men from Biliran province face raps for illegal gambling using spiders

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – “She did not resist arrest although she was surprised to see her arrest warrant” This was how Maj. Evan Viñas, the city police spokesperson, described Renalyn Tejero, the paralegal officer of the human rights group Karapatan, during her arrest by at least three police units just as she was waking up at 5 a.m. on Sunday (March 21). Tejero is facing charges of murder and attempted murder for the killing of two tribal leaders on March 19, 2020, according to Maj. Dorothy Tumulak, Caraga regional police spokesperson. Tumulak was referring to tribal leaders Datu Bernandino M. Astudillo and Zaldy Acidillo Ybañez, who were held by the communist New People’s Army on March 19, 2020 and executed in San Miguel town, Surigao del Sur province. Murder is a non-bailable offense, while the multiple attempted murder case carries a bail of P120,000, Viñas said. Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, described the charges against Tejero as the latest in a spate of ... » Learn More about ‘No intention to uphold her rights’: Detained rights worker got no court summons for murder rap

BACOLOD CITY –– Authorities have found that some travelers requesting to enter Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have been using fake COVID-19 test results. Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said his office had received reports that fake swab results are being sold at the pier in Manila for P900. Diaz said charges for falsification of public documents would be filed against those caught. Travelers to Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are required to submit negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results valid within 72 hours from the date of swab sample extraction. Dr. Chris Sorongon, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis, said they were disappointed with people who attempt to present fake COVID-19 results, especially at this time of the pandemic. “Risking the health of others, including members of their families, is so irresponsible. We should all be responsible for the safety of everyone,” Sorongon ... » Learn More about Negros Occidental to file raps vs travelers using fake COVID-19 test results

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela: Separate criminal and administrative charges will be filed against Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy and his companions by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) before the office of the ombudsman for illegally confiscating a tambiolo (draw machine) owned by the agency and conducting an unauthorized raid on the draw court established by the PCSO in Barangay Fermin last month. This was confirmed to The Manila Times by Jennifer Sunga, provincial manager of the PCSO in the province of Isabela, who said the agency’s legal counsel in the main office in Mandaluyong City has already finished their investigation report and prepared the criminal case for violating Sections 3, 4 and 6 of Republic Act 3019 and the administrative case for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, oppression and dishonesty to be filed against Dy and his companions before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon. “Our legal team has already recommended the filing of ... » Learn More about PCSO to file graft raps vs Isabela mayor

FIVE mayors are being summoned by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for reportedly jumping the line on getting vaccinated against Covid-19. They are Mayors Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte; Dibu Tuan of T’boli, South Cotabato; Sulpicio Villalobos of Santo Niño, South Cotabato; Noel Rosal of Legazpi City, Albay; and Abraham Ibba of Bataraza, Palawan. Epimaco Densing 3rd, DILG undersecretary for operations, said the agency believes that there was violation on the local chief executives’ part when they got inoculated despite not being on the priority list. After being served with show cause orders, the mayors will have to explain to the DILG why they were vaccinated ahead of persons in the priority list under the government’s vaccination program. “[The sanctions] are more administrative in nature,” Densing said in an interview over DZBB radio. He explained that the mayors’ violations would fall under Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and ... » Learn More about 5 mayors face raps for jumping vaccine line

Police are close to taking legal action against 11 rally speakers and 10 other protesters at Wednesday's demonstration at Ratchaprasong Intersection for allegedly violating the lese majeste law at what has been deemed an illegal gathering. A Metropolitan Police Bureau team was transcribing their speeches for use as evidence to support charges against the 11 speakers, possibly including lese majeste, said Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB). The police will next decide on a case-by-case basis as to who will face what charges, he said, adding that the other 10 unidentified suspects, were attendees holding placards containing messages offensive to the monarchy. Police investigators have learned that one of the suspects in a lese majeste case linked with the previous rally outside the German embassy had already fled to neighbouring Malaysia, said Pol Maj Gen Piya. Pol Col Chakkrit Chosungnoen, chief of Lumpini police station, ... » Learn More about 21 face lese majeste rap after rally